Ebenezer Mission handed back to Traditional Owners

On Thursday 5 December 2013, the National Trust handed over their freehold interests in the Ebenezer Mission, Antwerp to the Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation - Traditional Owners, Registered Aboriginal Party and Native Title Holders.

The Ebenezer Mission was gazetted in 1861 as the “Lake Hindmarsh Aboriginal Reserve” and was later closed in 1904. From 1968 until 1991, the National Trust managed the whole site of 0.8Ha, assuming Committee of Management status for the Crown Land reserve and freehold ownership of the balance of the site.

The Mission site by then contained remnant buildings including the church, cemetery, footings of the Mission House and several 19th century Mission buildings being the kitchen, dormitory and toilet block.

The Crown Land reservation was revoked in 1991 and the Crown allotment was sold as freehold land to Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-op Ltd., a health and welfare cooperative. In recent years the Barengi Gadjin Land Council have managed the site on the behalf of Goolum Goolum and the National Trust.

The day also marked the 8th anniversary of the Barengi Gadjin Land Council becoming Native Title Holders, the first in South East Australia and included tours of the Mission site by Traditional Owners, a fabulous lunch, smoking ceremony and dance performances